Prehospital use of magnesium sulfate as neuroprotection in acute stroke.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Magnesium sulfate is neuroprotective in preclinical models of stroke and has shown signals of potential efficacy with an acceptable safety profile when delivered early after stroke onset in humans. Delayed initiation of neuroprotective agents has hindered earlier phase 3 trials of neuroprotective agents.

Methods

We randomly assigned patients with suspected stroke to receive either intravenous magnesium sulfate or placebo, beginning within 2 hours after symptom onset. A loading dose was initiated by paramedics before the patient arrived at the hospital, and a 24-hour maintenance infusion was started on the patient's arrival at the hospital. The primary outcome was the degree of disability at 90 days, as measured by scores on the modified Rankin scale (range, 0 to 6

SUBMITTER: Saver JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4920545 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature